Faith Goldsmith ’20

Where did you study as an undergraduate? What was your major(s)?

I studied here, at UNC-Chapel Hill, and my majors were Peace, War, and Defense and Germanic Slavic Languages and Literature (concentration in Russian Language and Culture).

What do you like about UNC’s graduate program in Russian and East European Studies?

It brings together my interests in international relations and history with my curiosity about Russia and Eastern Europe.

Why did you choose to specialize in this region of the globe? 

Russian history, and that of its surrounding regions, seems to take a unique path even today that I find very interesting.

What are your research interests?

I am interested in political youth groups in Russia and Ukraine.

What would you like to do after you graduate? 

I would like to pursue work in the government or a think tank focused on international relations.

What are your hobbies? What do you like doing in your free time?

I enjoy reading and exploring new places.

What is your favorite visual reminder of the region and why? 

This lovely old church is among my favorite images of the region. I have read many works by Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and other Russian authors, and this image reminds me of the religion and mysticism present throughout many of them.